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Archive for the 'Miscellaneous' Category

Pigeon Invades Phoenix; Kobe Unconcerned

Published

Mike Trudell

on December 27, 2009

in Kobe Bryant, Miscellaneous and Practice News

. Closed

After L.A.’s Sunday afternoon practice concluded at US Airways Center in Phoenix, Kobe Bryant emerged from the training room to address the Lakers’ beat writers, all of whom were soon to be in for an odd occurrence.

Standing at the floor level in the outer tunnel around the arena floor, Bryant spent a few minutes talking about his elbow (”It’s fine”), Steve Nash and the Suns (”I’m anxious to see how we respond to [the challenge]“) and such.

Suddenly, and out of nowhere, a lone pigeon literally flew towards the cluster before altering its flight pattern about 30 feet away (where’s Manu Ginobili when you need him!!).

As a few of the reporters jumped to the side (the natural reaction of most human beings), Bryant simply stood still … expressionless, unfazed, uninterested.

Naturally.

After all, pigeons are no threat to black mambas.

Bill Macdonald To Sub for Dedes in NJ

Published

Mike Trudell

on December 19, 2009

in Miscellaneous and Pre-Game

. Closed

Lakers play-by-play voice Spero Dedes is calling the UCLA - Notre Dame game on CBS at 2 p.m. on Saturday, while Los Angeles sports personality Bill Macdonald (a.k.a. Billy Mac) has joined the team in order to call the Lakers - Nets game alongside Mychal Thompson.

Dedes had this to say before heading to South Bend, Indiana:

It’s bittersweet, to be very honest. You grow up dreaming of one day calling a game on national TV, and CBS has given me this opportunity. I’m thrilled to be in this spot. But on the other hand, I’ve always been very apprehensive about missing Laker games. If the Lakers weren’t as supportive as they’ve been, I wouldn’t be doing this. Billy Mac will hold it down. I’m just praying Kobe doesn’t go for 82.

Walton Nails Broadcast Debut

Published

Mike Trudell

on December 15, 2009

in Luke Walton and Miscellaneous

. Closed

Luke Walton - Spero Dedes Luke Walton made his broadcast debut in L.A.’s Friday-Saturday games against Minnesota and Utah, and surprised no one that’s spoken with him by doing a terrific job alongside radio play-by-play man Spero Dedes on 710 ESPN.

Of course, Walton wasn’t going to sing his own praises.

“I had a great time doing the broadcasts, and was really impressed with Spero and how easy he made it for me,” said Walton.

Fair enough.

In that case, let’s talk to Dedes:

On Luke’s success in his first two games as a color analyst:
Spero Dedes: I expected that he was going to do well all along, and that was certainly the case. Luke is a very cerebral guy, as you know, and he’s a guy who thinks the game through as a player. When you put him in that position to analyze and commentate through the game, it’s a layup for him. We were breaking his chops for the first couple of minute, but he was great.

On Spero’s approach to the game working alongside a new partner:
Dedes: I’m used to Mychal (Thompson) ignoring me completely, so I tried to engage Luke a little bit more, ask him questions … I’m just kidding. But I did try to ask him what Phil (Jackson’s) thinking here, what his teammates are doing and so on, and Luke was offering really good nuggets along those lines all night long. One time, Lamar (Odom) made a defensive mistake, and Luke pointed it out right away, and the very next time down the floor defensively Lamar made the adjustment. Another sequence, Luke was talking about Ron Artest being a great defender, and Ron came up with a steal on the next possession. That made him look really good.

On the advantage of currently playing with the team for a broadcaster:
Dedes: Even Mychal’s not privy to that kind of stuff, because Luke’s working out with these guys even as he’s recovering from injury. Luke, I think, was apprehensive going into it, but I think he’s going to realize that once he’s done playing, whether it’s 10 years or 20, that this is a pretty good way to make a living for a guy that’s had a long and successful professional playing career.

Lakers to Wear Gold in Utah

Published

Ty Nowell

on December 12, 2009

in Miscellaneous

. Closed

59111466 By now most Lakers fans know the deal when it comes to which uniforms the team will wear night-to-night. Purple on the road, gold at home except for Sunday’s, Holiday and special occasions when they break out the white unis.

Tonight is the exception. With the Jazz opting to wear their throwback alternate green kit with yellow accents (the same ones they wore at STAPLES on Wednesday) the Lakers will don their home gold duds in hostile territory.

The game is set for a 6pm tip on KCAL/9 HD and 710ESPN.

Rambis Receives his Ring

Published

Ty Nowell

on December 11, 2009

in Miscellaneous

. Closed

59129492 Before tonight’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves former Lakers player and assistant coach Kurt Rambis received his 2009 NBA Championship Ring from head coach Phil Jackson. After being presented with is ring the entire Lakers squad came over to congratulate their former assistant coach before turning their attention to his current team.

Podcast: Mbenga, Vujacic talk “Turkey Trot”

Published

Mike Trudell

on November 27, 2009

in Miscellaneous and Practice News

. Closed

If you hadn’t heard, Phil Jackson-coached teams go through a Thanksgiving tradition affectionately known as the “Turkey Trot,” in which players bigger than 6-8 go against the “small” guys.

Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant were given the day off to watch, while the injured Luke Walton took control of the whistle.

Bigs: Mbenga, Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Josh Powell
Smalls: Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, Shannon Brown, Adam Morrison, Ron Artest

I’ll let D.J. tell you how the game went, but here’s a hint.

“When I saw that Luke was the referee, I already knew we lost,” said Mbenga. “I know how it is.”

That, and the smalls apparently went nuts from three-point land, led by Vujacic, who stepped in towards the end of the podcast to clear things up (”What was the final score, D.J.? … Next year again, huh?):

D.J. Mbenga, Sasha Vujacic Turkey Trot [6:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Pau Gasol & Tennis Pro Sam Querrey

Published

Mike Trudell

on November 18, 2009

in Miscellaneous and Pau Gasol

. Closed

Pau Gasol - Sam Queery Pau Gasol can make even the very tall look average, as he does here with 6-6 American tennis pro Sam Querrey.

Querrey, a native of Thousand Oaks, California, currently lives in Santa Monica and was pictured with Pau (a friend of Rafael Nadal’s) at Tuesday’s Lakers - Pistons game.

The third ranked American player, Querrey reached a career-high ATP rank of #22, achieved on August 31, 2009. He also is the owner of the most consecutive aces award since the ATP began keeping those statistics, with 10.

Speaking of aces … I have a feeling Gasol would be able to drop a few bombs into the service box.

Gasol Guest Stars on “CSI: Miami” Tonight

Published

Mike Trudell

on November 16, 2009

in Miscellaneous and Pau Gasol

. Closed

CSI: MIAMI Pau Gasol successfully made it through a full practice on Monday.

But how will he do on television?

You can watch for yourself when L.A.’s seven-foot All-Star follows up last season’s “Numb3rs” appearance by guest starring on “CSI: Miami.” The show begins at 10 p.m. on CBS, with the following plot line (via CBS):

The CSIs investigate a horrible car crash to discover who or what caused it. The probe reveals the darkest secrets of the drivers involved. The NBA’s Pau Gasol guest stars as a person of interest in the case.